WOOING SINGAPORE: Seeking to create a united front in the South China Sea, SecDef Jim Mattis goes to the ASEAN defense ministers conference in full diplomat mode.

Mattis wrapped up his first day attending the ASEAN defense ministers’ meeting with private time with Singapore defense minister Ng Eng Hen. The meeting was to thank Ng for overall support of U.S. efforts to keep freedom of navigation vibrant as well as to urge a strong statement from ASEAN -which Singapore chairs this year – against China’s militarization of the South China Sea.

More:

Mattis needs the smaller nations of southeast Asia to speak more loudly their concerns about China and, ideally, join the U.S., U.K. and French efforts on freedom on navigation efforts.

“In some instances, other countries may not have the confidence given China’s strength to always speak up.. so we can represent that view is not only a U.S. view but really an international view,” Randall Schriver, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, told reporters Thursday. “But again as we discussed the other day it’s sovereign decisions on how they approach China bilaterally.”

Note Schriver’s careful diplospeak. The U.S. is seeking allied support, but saying if you want our backup, we’ll help. China is violating territorial sovereignty in the South China Sea. Chapter Three of Cocktails from Hell, addresses Beijing’s South China Sea misadventures. The book comes out in December.